Tool Storage rack

ABSTRACT

A tool storage rack for cleaning tools utilizable with a suction hose for a vacuum cleaner is provided which is attached to the cleaner end of the suction hose so as to make the tools readily available to the user when needed. The tool storage rack includes sockets for the easy mounting and dismounting of the tools and a hook means for use in hanging the tool holder with attached suction hose and tools on the wall of a closet or the like when they are not in use.

United States Patent 1191 Crouser Mar. 25, 1975 1 TOOL STORAGE RACK [75]Inventor: Darwin S. Crouser, North Canton,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio [22] Filed: Dec.10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 423,075

52 us. c1. 15/323, 15/257 A, 24/255 s13,

211/118, 248/231, 248/313 151 1111. (:1 A471 9/00 [58] Field 01 Search15/257 A, 301, 323;

211/113,118;248/309313, 230,231; 24/16 PB, 248 SL, 255 SL [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Martinec 15/257 A 4/1963Meyerhoefer 15/323 2/1970 Olson 24/255 SL Primary E \'aminerBilly J.Wilhite Assistant E.\umi11erC. K. Moore ABSTRACT A tool storage rack forcleaning tools utilizable with a suction hose for a vacuum cleaner isprovided which is attached to the cleaner end of the suction hose so asto make the tools readily available to the user when needed. The toolstorage rack includes sockets for the easy mounting and dismounting ofthe tools and a hook means for use in hanging the tool holder withattached suction hose and tools on the wall of a closet or the like whenthey are not in use.

15 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTED HAR 2 5 IHYS sum 1 egg EZJEHTEU.872.538

snmzuys SUCTION CONTROL CARPET TOOLS HIGH MED.LOW LOW MED. HIGHPATEHTEUHARZSWS 3,872,538

sumsu gs FIG. I5

FIG. l4

TOOL STORAGE RACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the InventionThis invention relates, generally, to floor care appliances and, morespecifically, relates to tool storage racks for mounting cleaning toolsutilizable with a vacuum cleaner.

2. Description of the Prior Art The use of tool storage racks, caddies,and supports in the floor care appliance field has been known for alarge number of years. These tool storage means have taken a variety offorms, some mountable only independently of the vacuum cleaner, ona'wall or in a closet or the like; some mountable on the vacuum cleaneritself, and some mountable both on and off the vacuum cleaner, dependentupon the whim or wish of the user. Of course, these last mentioned toolsupports provide for greater flexibility for the user because of theiradaptability to a variety of user situations. Thus, a tool storage rackhaving this versatility appears to be most advantageous in furtheringhousewife cleaning effort.

Some of these last mentioned tool supports are designed specifically formounting only on one type of vacuum cleaner such as a canister type.Obviously, then, when this type is utilized on the canister cleaner,tools are readily available for use on the end of the suction hose atall times. However, this type of tool rack is not easily adaptable to,say, a conventional, convertible cleaner since this cleaner generallytakes an upright form with some means for providing conversion to hoseoperation.

Although tool supports utilizable with and mounted on an upright cleanermight be adaptable for support of the tools utilized with a convertiblecleaner, these tools are only needed after conversion. Thus, toolsupport arrangement would be superfluous at all times save during thehose conversion mode of the suction cleaner so that provision should bemade for the rapid dismounting thereof during floor cleaning and therapid remounting thereof during hose conversion.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a tool support for aconvertible cleaner which was adapted for easy fixed mounting on thecleaner during the hose conversion mode. I

It would be additionally advantageous to structure the tool rack to makefor easy dismounting of the same from the cleaner when it was used inon-the-floor operation.

It would be still further advantageous to mount such a tool support withthe conversion hose so that they could be moved as a unit,semiautomatically necessitating the inclusion of the mounted tools in apackage readily accessible to the convertible cleaner during itsconversion mode.

Further, since the hose and tool support would be mounted as a unit forease in conversion, it would be advantageous to utilize the tool supportas a suspension means for the hose while the same was to be placed in anout-of-the-way storage location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the principles of theinvention, a tool storage rack for the receptive mounting of tools suchas, e.g., a crevice nozzle and an upholstery brush is provided. Thistool storage rack is made from plastic so as to be easily molded and isin a somewhat flattened condition, as molded, prior to easy foldingencirclement around a conventional hose coupling end of a tool suctionhose.

When folded, the tool storage rack provides a slightly tapering borewithin which is disposed the hose coupling. As mounted, disposed belowthe formed bore and outwardly of the cleaner, is a tool holding sectionformed by two mating, generally rectangular tubular portions. Eachtubular portion has a pair of mating irregular passageways, within whichare inserted the cleaning tools when attached to the tool storage rack.A series of mating, engaging tabs and loops, formed so as to be inopposed relation on the mating halves of the tool storage rack, insureretention of the tool storage rack in -its folded, mounted position ofthe hose end coupling.

A V-shaped groove, formed with the apex of the V- shaped groove orientedaxially relative to the elongated length of the suction hose, isincluded as an integral element of the tool storage rack. This V-shapedgroove conveniently serves as a hook to suspend the tool storage rackand attached suction hose when the same are in an inactive, storageposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference may now be had to the appendeddrawings for a better understanding of the invention, both as to itsorganization and function, with the illustration being only exemplaryand in which;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention with mounted tools andlocated in close adjacency to a convertible cleaner housing;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the invention, with mounted tools, andshown attached to a convertible cleaner housing;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIGS.3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational-and partly sectional view of the structureillustrated in FIG. 4 and taken on line 66 of FIG. 4; I

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the invention shown removed from thesuction hose coupling fitting;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the invention as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an end elevational view of the invention taken on line 9-9 ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is another end elevational view of the invention but this timetaken on line l0-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the invention, as molded, prior tofolding;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIG.11;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the bottom side of the invention andshowing its relationship to the hose coupling immediately prior tofolding conformance therewith;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the invention and assembled hosedisposed in a stored condition; and

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIG.14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to FIGS. 1to 6 of the drawings, it can be seen that a tool storage rack 10 ismounted and envelopes a tapered portion 12 of a generally tubular hosefitting 14. The tubular hose fitting is, in turn, conventionallyconnected to one end ofa tool suction hose 16, by any standard means(not shown), the other end of the tool suction hose (also not shown)providing for mounting of conventional cleaning tools such as a crevicetool 18, dusting brush and an upholstery brush 22.

A convertible cleaner 24, shown only fragmentarily as a portion of ahousing 26 of the convertible cleaner 24 includes a port 27 thatprovides sealing connection between hose fitting 14 and the interior ofthe cleaner 24. Male bayonet members 28, 28 on coupling fitting 14insure positive engagement of the hose fitting 14 so that sufficientsuction is available at the remote end (not shown) of the hose 16, toeffectively use the cleaning tools for cleaning purposes.

Conversion of the convertible cleaner 24 from carpet suction to toolsuction is occasioned by manual movement of a dial 30 between thesemodes as indicated by an indices means 32 provided by stamping orprinting on the outer face of housing 26. This dial, in movement,actuates a valve (not shown) which directs the suction air stream eitherthrough the port 27 or a suction nozzle (not shown) used for carpetsuction.

The structure just enumerated in the preceding paragraph is old and wellknown, being more specifically described in US. Pat. No. 3,300,806,issued Jan. 31, 1967, and owned by a common assignee. Reference may nowbe had to that patent for a more thoroughgoing understanding of aparticularized convertible cleaner with which the instant tool storagerack 10 may be utilized. However, it should be noted that the toolstorage rack 10 could quite easily be utilized with a variety of othercleaners including, for example, canistertype cleaners.

The tool storage rack 10 in an as molded, prefolded condition (indicatedat 10) is illustrated in FIGS. 11 l3 and includes a pair ofsubstantially mirror image portions 34, 36 which, with a connectingportion 38, go to make up the closed configuration of tool storage rack10. A pair of integrally connected living hinges 40, 40, one of which ispositioned on each side ofconnection portion 38, connects it to themirror image portions 34, 36 and permits these three elements to assumethe closed configuration illustrated in the other views of the drawings.

Each of the mirror image portions 34, 36 can be considered comprising anintegral tool supporting portion and a hose fitting conforming portionextending laterally therefrom. Mirror image portion 34 includes toolsupporting portion 42 and hose fitting conforming portion 44. Mirrorimage portion 36 includes tool supporting portion 46 and hose fittingconforming portion 48. In its final closed configuration, then, toolstorage rack 10 mounts its clean-ing tools 18, 20 and 22 in the joinedtool supporting portions 42 and 46, while the hose fitting conformingportions 44 and 48, along with connection portion 38 envelope hosefitting 14 to maintain tool storage rack 10 in assembledrelation withsuction hose 16.

Each of the tool supporting portions 42, 46 includes an outer face 50having a generally round aperture 52 and a partially hour-glass shapedaperture 54 disposed therein. Each of these faces is formed from a thin,outer walled section 56 that is integrally joined to a closed looping(in cross section) transversely, vertically extending wall portion 58that terminates at its bottom in a rim 60. This rim provides an abuttingmeans for the other contiguous rim 60 on the other respective toolsupporting portion when the same is in an assembled relation.

Strengthening ribs, e.g., 62, 64, 66, provided within the closed loop oftransversely and vertically extending wall portion 58, are integrallyconnected to it to extend for its full vertical depth to be integrallyconnected to thin walled section 56. These strengthening ribs extendvertically a sufficient distance so as to terminate at the same plane asrim 60 and are located, shaped and dimensioned so as to provide nointerference with the full insertion of the tools 18, 20 and 22 into thetool storage rack 10.

A series of tabs 68, and 72, provided on tool support portion 46, extendoutwardly from the rim 60 for locking engagement with a series of ears74, 76 and 78, respectively, provided on too] supporting portion 42 whenthe two portions are assembled in abutting relation.

Each of the tabs 68, 70 and 72 includes a cam portion 80 and a lockingportion 82, with the termination of the cam portion 80, contiguous tothe locking portion 82, being more outwardly disposed than the lockingportion 82. The camming portions on the tabs, as can be easily seen, areangled to provide a wedging engagement with the locking ears and alead-in angle for easy initial inserting engagement with the lockingears. As is conventional in such locking tabs and ears, a snap'overaction occurs when the locking portion 82 of each tab comes intoengagement with its respective locking ear to securely maintain toolstorage rack 10 in assembled condition.

Also, to aid in assembly of the tool storage rack 10, a pair of smallribs 84, 84 extend slightly outwardly of the tool supporting portion 42beyond the rim 60. These ribs engage against inner corners of the wallportions 58, on tool supporting portion 46, upon initial folding ofthese two portions together, to thereby align them for final assembly.It should now be clear that the two tool supporting portions 42, 46,interfit by means of their locking tabs and ears to maintain the foldedassembly of connecting portion 38 and hose fitting conforming portions44 and 48 together to form a tubular envelope around hose fitting 14.

Hose fitting 14 is maintained in this envelope in the following manner.The connecting portion 38 and hose fitting conforming portions 44 and48, as was indicated previously, form a circular configuration when thetool storage rack 10 is in closed condition. A radially inwardlyextending, circular flange 86 is formed by these three elements when inclosed configuration that extends substantially uninterruptedly aroundtheir closed configuration (save for the area of the living hinges).This flange is that part of these three elements which limits axialmovement of hose fitting 14 axially outwardly of the formed cylindricalenvelope towards tab 70 and ear 74. Hose 16, then, would extend axiallyoutwardly beyond hose fitting 14, past tab 70 and ear 74.

to be connected at its remote end to one of the tools carried by toolstorage rack (see FIG. 13);

Axially inwardly of flange 86, the connecting portion 38 and hoseconforming portions 44 and 48 lie closely adjacent to the slightlytapering section of hose fitting 5 in aligned relationship on hosefitting conforming porl5 tions 44 and 48, respectively, and spaced ontheir inner circumferences at locations that place them in diametricallyopposed relation (e.g., see FIG. 10) when the tool storage rack 10 hasbeen lockingly assembled so that the locking tabs 68, 70 and 72lockingly engage with locking ears 74, 76 and 78. In order to providepositive engagement on the hose fitting 14, for the buttons 88, 90, hosefitting 14 includes,a pairof diametrically opposed bores 92, 94of-strbstantially the sgme diameter as the'buttons 88, 90.llesabor'esfiif course,

receive :he pro ecting buttons when the tool storage rack 10 is mountedon hose fitting 14 to thereby positively locate the hose fitting 14within the tool storage rack 10.

Strengthening of the tool storage rack 10 is accomplished by a pair ofintegrally formed, offset portions 96, 96 of tool storage rack 10 thatare positioned axially inwardly of the flange 86. The offset portions96, 96 are somewhat triangular in end view to furnish a substantiallydeep cross-sectional area and thereby a pair of effective strengtheningribs 98, 100 for bracing and rigidifying purposes of the tool storagerack 10.

The assembly of the tool storage rack 10, the hose fitting 14 andsuction hose 16 should now be fairly evident. More specifically, thetool storage rack is placed in an upwardly open position such as shownin FIG. 13, and the hose fitting 14 laid therein, with the terminatingend of the hose fitting 14 adjacent the suction hose 16 in abuttingrelation with flange 86. The bores 92, 94 in the hose fitting 14 arealigned with the projecting buttons 88, 90 of the tool storage rack 10and the portions of this tool rack extending transversely outwardly frombeneath hose fitting 14 folded around the hose fitting. As thesetransversely extending ends (portions of mirror images 36, 38) comeclose to abutting contact, the locking tabs 68, 70 and 72 engage withlocking ears 74, 76 and 78, respectively, and cam into inserted, lockingengagement therewith, with the mirror image portions 36, 38 then intight abutting engagement.

Assembly is then complete and the tools 18, 20 and 22 may be loaded instorage rack 10 to make a convenient package of the tool hose 16, hosefitting 14, tool storage rack 10 and tools 18, 20 and 22. Thus, wheneverthe housewife desires to convert her convertible cleaner 24 from carpetcleaning to suction hose operation, she merely goes to a convenientstorage location and gets the combined suction hose, tool rack andtools, carrys this assemblage to the convertible cleaner, inserts thebayonet end of the hose fitting in the cleaner and moves the conversionvalve of the cleaner to tool suction. The cleaner is then fully in thetool suction mode and the tools, moreover, are conveniently lo- LIIcated at the suction hose end adjacent the cleaner 24.

To add to the convenience of utilization of the tool storage rack 10, ahook means 102 is provided thereon so that the tool rack-suction hosemay be easily stored on an out-of the way wall or in a closet. Moreparticularly, connecting portions 38 include an integrally, generallyU-shaped section 104 (viewed in end elevation, FIG. 9) that opensdownwardly and has its axially inner end closed by a part of flange 86on connecting portion 38. The bight 106 of the U is then disposeduppermost and extends generally parallel relative to the axis of thesuction hose. It includes a V-shaped groove 108 opening towards themajor extent of the suction hose 16, with this groove serving as themeans of engagement with a wall mounted hook 110 or the like (FIGS. 14and 15) that conveniently suspends the assembly in an out-of-the-waystorage position.

Additionally, the just-mentioned position of storage rack 10 alsopermits the storing retention of one or two conventional wands 111utilizable on the end of suction ose 16. This occurs in the followingmanner. The extending ends of tool supporting portions 42 and 46 eachinclude an axially extending tab section 112 (e.g., FIGS. 11 and 13)formed beyond the storage area for dusting brush 20 and upholstery brush22. Each tab section includes a thinned portion 114 formed by inwardlyoffsetting of the outer, upper and lower side surfaces of the tabsection 112. A rim or lip 116 is thereby formed between the outer axialtermination of each tab section 112 and the outer axial termination ofeach thinned portion 114. A resilient hook 118, disposed on each of thewands 111, may fit over this'lip (FIGS. 14 and 15) to retain the same ina stored position, fixed with respect to the tool storage rack 10.

It should be clear that the described tool rack satisfactorily meets theadvantages set forth earlier in this disclosure and that the same isdone in a most effective manner, without resorting to a highly priced orseverely complicated structure. It should also be evident that manymodifications could be made to the instant tool storage rack by oneskilled in the art that would still fall within the spirit and purviewof the description advaneed.

What is claimed is: v

1. A tool storage rack for use with a floor care appliance having asuction hose means, the combination including;

a. a one-piece tool storage means including living hinge means;

b. said one-piece tool storage means being folded to form a firstsurface;

0. one of said floor care appliance and said suction hose including asecond surface, and

d. said first surface complementary to said second surface forconforming thereto so as to be closely abuttingly mounted thereon sothat said one-piece tool storage means is fixed to one of said floorcare appliance and said suction hose means.

2. The tool storage rack set out in claim 1 wherein;

a. said first surface is an internal surface of said folded, one-piecetool storage means.

3. The tool storage rack set out in claim 1 wherein;

a. said second conforming surface is an external surface formed by atubular portion of one of said floor care appliance and said suctionhose means.

4. The tool storage rack set out in claim 3 wherein;

a; said tubular portion is generally cylindrical in shape.

5. The tool storage rack set out in claim 1 wherein;

a. said one-piece tool storage means including living hinge means isfolded to form a closed configuration, and

b. means are provided with'said tool storage means for maintaining saidfolded configuration.

6. The tool storage rack set out in claim 5 wherein;

a. said means for maintaining said folded configuration compriseslockable tab means inserted into locking reception means.

7. The tool storage rack of claim 1 wherein;

a. said tool storage means includes a pair of mirror image portions;

b. said mirror image portions being disposed in abutting engagement withone another when said tool storage means is in folded condition. y

8. A tool storage rack'for use with arsuction hose coupling including;

a. means for mounting said tool storage rack oii said suction hosecoupling including mirror image porc. locking means carried by said toolstorage rack for I retaining said mounting of said tool storage rack onsaid suction hose coupling, and

d. said mirror image portions of said tool storage means being foldedinto abutting engagement to form said tool storage means, said toolstorage means, in folded condition, conforming to said suction hosecoupling.

9. A tool storage rack for use with a floor care appliance having asuction hose means, the combination including;

a. a one piece tool storage means including living hinge means;

b. said one piece tool storage means folded to form substantially abore;

c. said suction hose means including a fitting having a substantiallycylindrical section;

d. said bore of said tool storage means conforming to said substantiallycylindrical suction fitting means for reception of the same so that saidtool storage means is mounted thereon and fixed relative to said suctionhose means.

10. The tool storage rack of claim 9 wherein;

a. said tool storage means and said suction fitting hose means haveprojecting button means and button receiving means;

b. said button means being received in said button receiving means toprevent relative displacement between said tool storage means and saidsuction hose means. I

11. A tool storage rack for use with a floor care appliance having asuction hose means, the combination including;

a. a one-piece toolstorage means including living hinge means;

b. said one-piece storage means being folded to form a first surface;

c. one of said floor care appliance and said suction hose meansincluding a second surface;

d. said first surface complementary to said second surface forconforming thereto for mounting thereon so that said one-piece toolstorage means is fixed to one of said floor care appliance and saidsuction hose means;

e. said tool storage means including a pair of mirror image portions; i

"ft-said mirror image portions being disposed in abutting engagementwith on afriithe .syhgn said tool storage means is in foldedconditiomand g. said folded condition providing coincidental recep taclemeans extending through said mirror image portions for the easyinsertion and retention of cleaning tools therein.

12. The tool storage rack of claim 11 wherein;

a. said mirror image portions also include internal surfaces formingbore segments;

b. said internal surfaces forming at least part of said first surface.

13. The tool storage rack of claim 12 wherein;

a. said second surface is formed by a generally cylindrical surface onsaid suction hose means.

14. The tool storage rack of claim 13 wherein;

a. said tool storage means includes hook means;

b. said hook means providing for storing said tool storage means andsuction hose means in suspended condition for out-of-the way storage.

15. The tool storage rack of claim 14 wherein;

a. said tool storage means includes engaging means for the storage of awand or the like when the tool storage means is in said out-of-the-waystorage.

1. A tool storage rack for use with a floor care appliance having asuction hose means, the combination including; a. a one-piece toolstorage means including living hinge means; b. said one-piece toolstorage means being folded to form a first surface; c. one of said floorcare appliance and said suction hose including a secoNd surface, and d.said first surface complementary to said second surface for conformingthereto so as to be closely abuttingly mounted thereon so that saidone-piece tool storage means is fixed to one of said floor careappliance and said suction hose means.
 2. The tool storage rack set outin claim 1 wherein; a. said first surface is an internal surface of saidfolded, one-piece tool storage means.
 3. The tool storage rack set outin claim 1 wherein; a. said second conforming surface is an externalsurface formed by a tubular portion of one of said floor care applianceand said suction hose means.
 4. The tool storage rack set out in claim 3wherein; a. said tubular portion is generally cylindrical in shape. 5.The tool storage rack set out in claim 1 wherein; a. said one-piece toolstorage means including living hinge means is folded to form a closedconfiguration, and b. means are provided with said tool storage meansfor maintaining said folded configuration.
 6. The tool storage rack setout in claim 5 wherein; a. said means for maintaining said foldedconfiguration comprises lockable tab means inserted into lockingreception means.
 7. The tool storage rack of claim 1 wherein; a. saidtool storage means includes a pair of mirror image portions; b. saidmirror image portions being disposed in abutting engagement with oneanother when said tool storage means is in folded condition.
 8. A toolstorage rack for use with a suction hose coupling including; a. meansfor mounting said tool storage rack on said suction hose couplingincluding mirror image portions of said tool storage means; b. receptionmeans in said storage rack for storingly receiving cleaning tools; c.locking means carried by said tool storage rack for retaining saidmounting of said tool storage rack on said suction hose coupling, and d.said mirror image portions of said tool storage means being folded intoabutting engagement to form said tool storage means, said tool storagemeans, in folded condition, conforming to said suction hose coupling. 9.A tool storage rack for use with a floor care appliance having a suctionhose means, the combination including; a. a one piece tool storage meansincluding living hinge means; b. said one piece tool storage meansfolded to form substantially a bore; c. said suction hose meansincluding a fitting having a substantially cylindrical section; d. saidbore of said tool storage means conforming to said substantiallycylindrical suction fitting means for reception of the same so that saidtool storage means is mounted thereon and fixed relative to said suctionhose means.
 10. The tool storage rack of claim 9 wherein; a. said toolstorage means and said suction fitting hose means have projecting buttonmeans and button receiving means; b. said button means being received insaid button receiving means to prevent relative displacement betweensaid tool storage means and said suction hose means.
 11. A tool storagerack for use with a floor care appliance having a suction hose means,the combination including; a. a one-piece tool storage means includingliving hinge means; b. said one-piece storage means being folded to forma first surface; c. one of said floor care appliance and said suctionhose means including a second surface; d. said first surfacecomplementary to said second surface for conforming thereto for mountingthereon so that said one-piece tool storage means is fixed to one ofsaid floor care appliance and said suction hose means; e. said toolstorage means including a pair of mirror image portions; f. said mirrorimage portions being disposed in abutting engagement with one anotherwhen said tool storage means is in folded condition, and g. said foldedcondition providing coincidental receptacle means extending through saidmirror image portions for the easy insertion and retention of Cleaningtools therein.
 12. The tool storage rack of claim 11 wherein; a. saidmirror image portions also include internal surfaces forming boresegments; b. said internal surfaces forming at least part of said firstsurface.
 13. The tool storage rack of claim 12 wherein; a. said secondsurface is formed by a generally cylindrical surface on said suctionhose means.
 14. The tool storage rack of claim 13 wherein; a. said toolstorage means includes hook means; b. said hook means providing forstoring said tool storage means and suction hose means in suspendedcondition for out-of-the way storage.
 15. The tool storage rack of claim14 wherein; a. said tool storage means includes engaging means for thestorage of a wand or the like when the tool storage means is in saidout-of-the-way storage.